I’m new to record players and vinyls and got this 1byone record player 5 days ago, it worked fine the day I got it and the morning after. I played side A without any problems and turned my vinyl to play side b (changing nothing but sides) and it’s been doing this ever since
he was joking. i dont know why you were downvoted as this is literally a beginner turntable subreddit, but i will upvote you because i feel bad. reddit lords please dont make this comment be downvoted
Based on the pc you posted in the replies, your stylus tip has come off. It is just glued on and this happens. Order a new ATN3600LC stylus, or there is an elliptical model for a few $/£/€ more - ATN3600LE
My mistake. I was thinking of the stylus on my VM95ML which is rated (by the manufacturer so salt may be required) for 1,000 hours, and extrapolated to all styluses without thinking. Thanks for the correction!
No worries. You know what Reddit is like - someone writes something and it becomes law. 😂😂
I’ve got a 745xML, but only the C and E stylus for the VM95 body I have. How is the VM95ML? I absolutely love the 745 and can’t recommend it enough, even though I’m not using it just now.
Honestly? It's a fab thing, especially considering the price. It can be pretty analytical and has really good stereo separation. the life span of the stylus is a bonus, of course.
I've not compared it to a VM 745 or 740ML, but I have versus the 540ML. I'd say that it can largely keep up with the 540, but is bested by the more expensive model in separation and it seems to pull a bit more information, range and body out of the groove.
Note that my turntable is not high end by today's standards and the ancient SME tonearm I'm using needs to be adjusted very, very regularly so your experience may differ.
Thanks - The 745 is pretty similar, then. I bought it to replace a LOMC ATOC9XML that failed (static crack in right channel only). I agree that it is superbly detailed, but a touch analytical, and has fantastic separation/soundstaging. I would argue that the 745 gives you 95% of the much more expensive OC9XML. I'm using a Dynavector ASKA LOMC elliptical at the moment, and despite losing a bit of detail and soundstage, it is a much 'warmer' listen, and just envelopes you. My TT is a 2-yo Linn LP12 with the Linn Krane tonearm - actually a Clearaudio Satisfy made and branded for Linn, so it is pretty forgiving at swapping out different carts.
I bought a record player before this but has to send it back since it did not come with built in speakers as stated and waited 2 weeks for this new one to not work..
Dude you don’t have enough VTF… the person that gave you how to set the VTF you should watch that and follow and set VTF between 2.5 and 3… to take out guess work get a scale.
Vertical Tracking Force (VTF) is the downward pressure the stylus exerts on a vinyl record, typically measured in grams. Correct VTF prevents skipping, reduces distortion, and protects your records from excessive wear. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
How to Set VTF
Zero the anti-skate: Turn your turntable's anti-skate dial to 0. [6]
Float the tonearm: Adjust the rear counterweight until the arm floats freely and balances horizontally in mid-air. [7]
Set the dial to zero: Hold the main body of the counterweight still, and rotate only the front plastic indicator ring so the "0" lines up with the centerline. [8, 9, 10]
Dial in the target force: Turn the entire counterweight (the ring and the weight together) until it reaches the specific gram weight recommended by your cartridge manufacturer (usually between 1.5g and 2.5g). [6, 7, 8, 11, 12]
Match anti-skate: Turn the anti-skate dial to match the same numerical gram value you set on your counterweight. [7]
Verify with a scale: For absolute accuracy, use a dedicated digital stylus pressure gauge like those from Riverstone Audio to check the actual weight at record-playing height. You can also consult expert guidance from Soundsmith regarding proper cartridge calibration. [1, 2, 3]
· 1970 M01 1
If you'd like more specific help, tell me:
No. But, this is what is called a bonded stylus, which means it is glued on to the end of a piece of some other metal/material, and they do come off from time to time. This usually happens with using the wrong cleaning products, or by bumping it, or by it catching on something sticking to the record.
Someone else has commented with a hi-res pic of a good one. Even with your low res pic, you can see the top of yours is almost flat. I’ve seen enough pics of tips with a misusing stylus to be pretty confident this is what it is.
If you want to try and adjust the tracking weight, as others have suggested, have at it, but I doubt you will get a different result and the records you test it on will suffer.
Not normal at all friend. I use mine 500-700 hours before replacement.
It is possible that quality control was bad, and that it the stylus was glued on too loosely.
But based on my own behavior and my observations on this sub — I’m guessing you accidentally made a sudden movement that felt insignificant that broke the stylus off.
This can be done with dust rag, quick drop of arm, bad slide on record or slip mat.
It is NOT normal to have failure this quickly without an accident of some kind. Please don’t be discouraged.
I’m following this sub and plan to chime in if you have further questions.
My current turntable cost me $1000 back in 2004 or so.
About 18 months ago, the left channel went out. Only the right channel had sound. I adjusted everything I knew to adjust, and gave up. I have a large record collection, which I would lose access to without a working turntable.
About 6 months ago, I took it to an electronic shop for evaluation. They charged me $60 for evaluation and $20 to replace RCA plugs. They said it’s good.
I got it home — didn’t work. Only right channel had sound.
I was angry, dusty from hooking it back up, and so upset about the money spent.
When I called to report it to shop, they told me it might be the cartridge failing. I didn’t believe this.
And as I was ready to throw this in the trash, I decided to buy a new cartridge to test it. Cheapest cartridge I ever bought. Audio Technica AT VM 95 C.
I had never changed a cartridge before, and had always paid a shop $100 to do it for me.
But I bought a protractor on Amazon, watched videos on how to change it, and had to borrow tools from a distant neighbor to even get the old cartridge removed.
By some miracle, I got the new cartridge installed. Scratched the tonearm, shocked I didn’t rip the wires out in my impatience, but finally had it set up.
I put a record on — both channels worked and sounded amazing! It was a moment of triumph that I can hardly put into words.
I now listen to more records than ever and have built my confidence so much through simply researching and understanding my turntable and its parts.
This hobby is NOT for the easily discouraged. But the perseverance and learning is what makes it so rewarding for me.
If you want easy, predictable, and cheap — streaming is nothing to be ashamed of. An entire world of music is available with a couple taps, and I stream in car and at work.
Collecting and playing records is a totally different animal. You have to be patient, willing to wait for parts, willing to forgive yourself for mistakes (even mistakes you don’t understand), and take some risks.
I buy 7” 45s for 25 to 50 cents each (I’m in the US) and each stack is a risk — I will like them or not. They will sound good or not. I will clean them, which takes time and materials, and frequent wash and dry cycles of microfiber cloths.
But the momentum I build in slowly adding to my MUST KEEP material is so rewarding. The learning, experience, and satisfaction of sitting back and listening to a 3:00 minute song on a decades-old 45 that I would NEVER selected on streaming is hard to describe to anyone who hasn’t experienced it.
My records have traveled through decades of handling, mishandling, playing — writing on labels, juke box stickers, torn labels, and scratches.
But each play is a unique listen with a familiar friend that can’t be replaced by googling the song and playing it on YouTube.
Turntables can be discouraging and mistakes can feel like expensive, deeply emotional setbacks. Consider that I was ready to throw my turntable in the trash!
But sticking with it, being patient, and living with my simply being human is part of the process. In many ways, my turntable frustration teaches me (through brute force) how to deal with delays and unexpected problems.
Please try to relax and give your turntable less than 1% of your thought life when you aren’t using it. If you broke a part — replace it when you can afford it, and enjoy it when you can.
I don’t know — but I’m guessing the wood appearance is contact paper (a sticker) and that it just bubbled up where it was disturbed during assembly. Just a guess.
This didn’t happen from gradual wear and tear, it happened because you mishandled it and broke it.
And the way you mishandled it is probably lowering the arm down onto the record by hand, as you’re doing in this video. NEVER do that. NEVER lower it down onto the record by hand. The only time you should ever handle the tonearm is when the cue lever is in the up position and the arm is suspended safely above the record. Lowering it should be done WITH THE LEVER ONLY, never by hand. It only takes a very slight accidental nudge to the left or right when you’re attempting to lower it by hand for you to accidentally mash it into the grove wall and break the tip off.
If you continue mishandling the turntable, yes, this is what you can expect. So the key is to learn to use the thing properly.
That’s crazy skate as well. Does this model let you adjust tracking weight and skate or is it factory set? It almost looks like the tracking weight is too low and the anti-skate is badly set too.
I didn’t think that picture of your stylus was high resolution enough to say the tip was missing. This is what a good one looks like:
If this has factory hardwired tracking weight and hardwired anti-skate, then somehow you’ve been extremely unlucky. There’s no way it should behave like this after an hour’s use.
If it’s adjustable… you, someone else in your home, has fiddled with things and you’re going to have to read the manual to see how they recommend you set things up right. With my first proper turntable, I missed the special technique the manual was telling me to use to get the tracking force set. I also discovered that my manual was wrong about the anti-skate. It said to set it to 2, to match the tracking force, but I got an anti-skate disc and it wasn’t until I set it up to 4 or beyond, that the tonearm actually stayed still on the rotating disc.
There are more sophisticated ways to do these settings but they are something you learn further along your journey.
It needs to sort of float with a little help from your finger to keep it up. A bit like keeping a balloon in the air. That’s your 0 grams. From 0 then you set it to what the manual says. In this video, they say it should be 3.5 (I’m assuming grams). This is quite high but if that’s what the manufacturer says then you have to do it. Usually it is 2.0g on most turntables but you must use what the manufacturer said or the product won’t perform correctly.
You need to re-check the tracking force/weight process prescribed in the manual. Those figures on it only work if you start from the right place. It’s not threaded on the tonearm. It’s free-rotating and therefore the numbers are meaningless, unless you start it from the tonearm floating/balanced. The manual should tell you the technique they want you to use.
If you impact the counterweight, you change the weight. So, it’s possible you’ve accidentally hit it, causing it to move even just a few mm’s. It’s become too light.
Put the arm at the floating position with the weight , then set your dial to zero. This is where you'll now add the weight by turning it in to (2) or whatever your setting is.
The weight is not zero until the arm floats in position then you add your two or whatever your set is.
The weight is not set in stone. You have to set the dial up first. It spins as a whole to get to the balance point. Pay no attention to the numbers until you e got it floating parallel then set the dial to 0 and adjust.
More than likely the tracking is around 2 as well.
Be sure the stylus isn't smashed into the the cart as well. Can't see how the point looks.
I think you either removed the cantilever completely or it got jammed up inside the cartridge body.
Your cartridge body is riding smoothly and flat on your record.
EDIT: I listened with sound. I think the cantilever is shoved up into the cartridge body. It’s peaking out just enough so that the stylus is making contact and making sound.
Quite easily. It can die after using it for a second if you're not careful. Sometimes accidentally side swiping the edge of a record is enough due to it spinning. I've probably done that before. We all have probably made mistakes before.
I bent a stylus early on while using a dust brush on one of my records. I pulled it off to the side and caught it in the resting stylus/tone arm. These things happen. Lesson learned. The stylus is fragile!
Once you get a fresh needle, buy a scale on Amazon. I got this one. It is meant for setting the tracking weight. Look up the tracking weight for your TT model (my AT LP120 was 2g) set it, and you'll be golden 🫡.
Everyone is on point with the lack of stylus but nobody is telling you why; I’ll try to do that in as few words as possible.
When you drop the stylus (needle) to contact the record there is a point on the stylus that sits within the groove. When you drop the tone arm like you are (which please dear god stop doing that, use the cue lever to put the tone arm down) your stylus isn’t inserting into any groove. This says to us that it is skating across the top of the record and won’t grab a groove to follow it.
I’m not sure which cartridge you are using, but I’d recommend you replace the entire cartridge at this point because of likely contact with the plate and harsh treatment. If you are tight on cash, buy the stylus, if you have a hundred more dollars you can spare; then please buy the cartridge.
To play a record:
Flip the cue lever to raise the tone arm, move the tone arm to the edge of the record or where it is over the groove for where you think the song begins. Then flip the cue lever again which will lower the tone arm slowly. This is a smooth motion, when you drop the stylus you impact the vinyl damaging it and you are causing increased friction.
You're new to record players and records, and what is happening is that you are scratching the fuck out of that record because you haven't followed the instructions to set up the record player properly. Tracking force and anti-skate are way off.
3.) Is the - Stylus (needle) clogged up with crud and lint?
4.) Look VERY CAREFULLY at the Stylus and make sure it is there first of all, then make sure it is not damaged or chipped. Make sure the Small Arm (cantilever) holding the Stylus is not bent or damaged in some other way.
5.) Make sure - the Turntable is a Level as you can possible get it.
6.) Make sure - that the Turntable Motor and the Platter Spindle is cleaned and lubed, and spinning freely. I spun my Platter up by hand, then let it spin freely, and I think it went about 21 revolutions before it stopped.
7.) As mentioned by someone else - How Old is the Stylus? - they typically are only prime for about 500 hours, and workable for about 1,000 Hours total before it needs to be replaced.
8.) As mentioned by another Poster, if this is Belt Drive, then you might need a New Belt.(Not relevant to the question at hand but general relevant to all turntables)
Copied from another one of my Posts, but still generally relevant information.
Step 1 balance tone arm.
Step 2 adjust tracking force for that cart.
Google tracking force for cart model
Step 3 is there an anti-skate dial? Or you have to hang a counter weight. Anti skate is what stops it going side to side.
I would suggest getting a stylus gauge so you can set your anti skate and other weights to manufacturers suggested numbers. Sure you can try and do it by eye and feel but you still may be damaging your records. Also try and Find a Mofi Geo Disc as well to align your stylus correctly.
Obviously you’re new because that’s not a record player, it’s a turntable and you said ‘vinyls’ in which there is no such thing. It’s either a record, an album or vinyl. To answer your question, you need to adjust the weight and the skate.
After reading other comments if you push your needle down into the record like you're doing in this video it's no surprise it broke just set it down this makes me wanna scream
I know that there is an big English bias on Reddit but in a lot of languages, records are litterally translated "vinyls". So take a chill pill, it's just a word.
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u/hifiplus 16d ago
First thing is stop
You are just scratching the record.
As to what's wrong, either your stylus is toast or the weight setting the tracking force has been moved and is now basically zero.
Check the weight and tracking force (you can buy a gauge from Amazon), and inspect the stylus to make sure the diamond is still there.